Mr. Wang Wei, CEO of EWIE and Wiseway International, was interviewed by The PIE News at the beginning of the year. He discussed the impact of the epidemic on international education, including the effects on students going abroad, changes in destination countries, employment opportunities for returning students, and the prospects of the study abroad industry in China, which brought us many new perspectives and thoughts.
In the interview, Mr. Wang Wei first briefly introduced EWIE. Founded in 1999, Wiseway has been dedicated to international educational research and services for over 22 years. EWIE have 15 offices in China, mainly conducting enrollment work for 15 countries including the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2008, the customer base of EWIE expanded from students and parents to educational institutions, starting with an international preparatory course, and has been operating in 10 Chinese universities, recruiting approximately 800 to 1000 students annually. As an international educational research and service institution, EWIE cover China’s educational research, project development, and university cooperation. We always insist on directly serving students and providing services to universities, from long-term academic education to shorter semester exchanges and two-week learning experience projects.
Mr. Wang Wei, an expert in the international education in China, shared his views on the impact of the epidemic on the employment of international students. He noted that the outlook for students studying abroad is not optimistic, mainly due to the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry. The relaxed attitude adopted by western society has led many students and parents to worry about the safety problems after going abroad. In addition, the international relations between China, the United States, and China Australia also have a certain impact on the choices of students. However, in the medium to long term, the number of students studying abroad each year will continue to increase, possibly due to government encouragement and school funding, which is more evident in short-term exchange programs. At present, the UK is definitely the preferred destination for studying abroad. British universities also have many joint training programs in China, such as 2+2 or 3+1 programs. China is becoming an economic powerhouse, and universities have a large amount of funding to support international projects, so some students choose to study in China. After completing the project, many students choose to continue pursuing a master’s or even doctoral degree in the UK, which also contributes to the number of students studying in the UK. Regarding the domestic job market, the pressure on young graduates will only increase. After returning to China, students usually directly enter the IT and business fields, and now many students have also gone to the popular majors of finance and banking. However, the difficulty in finding jobs is not all because of COVID-19. The changes in China’s social and political policies will also affect all aspects of the economy and thus affect the employment of graduates.
In the interview, Mr. Wang Wei discussed the market prospects and existing challenges of the study abroad industry in China. He believes that while this market is not currently a priority for domestic universities and enrollment agencies, the number of students studying in China will gradually increase. This is evident from the number of students from neighboring Asia coming to China is growing. However, due to the current low fees charged by Chinese universities for international students, resulting in high project operating costs, a successful business model has not yet been found. The East and West are also exploring together with domestic universities, hoping to provide more diversified services for universities in the near future, and bring students a higher quality and multi-level international experience.
If you would like to learn more about the detailed content of this interview and the cutting-edge international education news, please visit The PIE News official website: https://thepienews.com/pie-chat/wang-wei/
1 EWIE Research Institute Strengthen Theoretical Learning, Overcome the Impact of the Epidemic, and Expand Business Fields
2021 is the year of study. In the face of the impact of the epidemic on the international education and service industry, while actively making adjustments, the EWIE Research Institute, focusing on major historical events such as the centennial of the founding of the CPC and the sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, has carefully studied relevant theories through internal discussion, especially the relevant discussions on implementing new development concepts and building a new development pattern, and strives to grasp the development stage of the times and combine business development with national development. In response to a series of new policies and measures on education reform and development proposed by the government in 2021, the research institute focuses on the core business development of the group’s “education”, “international”, and “service” keywords, strengthens internal learning, enhances business capabilities, integrates high-quality domestic and foreign resources, conducts multi-dimensional cooperation, and makes parallel efforts in various fields such as industry research, curriculum research and development, cooperative education, and international cooperation, creating good results.
2 The 3rd China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum was unprecedentedly grand, attracting over 140 universities from both countries
The Third China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum and Annual Meeting of the China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, jointly organized by Jiangsu University, the China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, Guizhou University, and the EWIE, was successfully held at the permanent venue of the China ASEAN Education Exchange Week in Guiyang through online and offline integration from September 24th to 25th, 2021. This forum is one of the main activities of the 2021 China ASEAN Education Exchange Week. More than 360 representatives from more than 140 universities in China and Thailand participated in the conference, including the “China Thailand University President Sub Forum”, the “China Thailand Agriculture and Food Sustainable Development Sub Forum”, the “China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Roundtable Conference”, and parallel activities such as the “Youth Student Sub Forum and the” Zhixing Guizhou Silk Road Youth Exchange Cultural Experience Tour “. At the 3rd China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum and the Annual Meeting of the China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, Jiangsu University and Chiang Mai University jointly established a joint laboratory, Beijing Language and Culture University and Siam University jointly established an international Chinese major through strategic cooperation, Guizhou University and Empress Dowager Chiang Lai University, Guizhou Institute of Technology and North Chiang Mai University signed agreements and letters of intent for their respective cooperation.
3 The “New Youth Global Competency Talent Training Project” has officially launched
The “New Youth Global Competency Talent Training Project” developed and executed by EWIE was officially launched in November 2021.
The New Youth Global Competency Talent Training Program is a new era youth quality and ability training program established by the China Education International Exchange Association directly under the Ministry of Education for domestic university students. The project adopts a “classroom+practice” training method, which includes 9 elective courses (+workshops), 9 series of lectures combining course themes, and 9 domestic and foreign practical activities that are organically connected with course teaching, abbreviated as the “999 model”. To ensure teaching effectiveness and enhance student experience, the course has designed a “POWER teaching mode” to promote the achievement of project training objectives.
The “New Youth Global Competency Talent Training Project” officially launched the application process for universities on October 18th this year. After expert evaluation, the first batch of 59 participating universities in the project have been determined. The project is scheduled to enter the implementation phase of lectures and course teaching in March 2022, and student practical activities are planned to be carried out at an appropriate time this year.
4 Expert Guidance Committee for the “New Youth Global Competency Talent Training Project” Established
On December 4th, the inaugural meeting and first working meeting of the Expert Guidance Committee for the New Youth Global Competency Talent Training Project, organized and prepared by the EWIE Research Institute, was held in the conference hall of the China Education International Exchange Association.
At this meeting, the EWIE Research Institute invited more than 20 experts from the fields of domestic diplomacy and international organizations, university presidents and deans of related disciplines, and executives of large multinational enterprises to attend. Some experts from outside Beijing attended the meeting in the form of online videos. Dean Wang Wei of the EWIE Research Institute delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
The New Youth Global Competency Talent Training Program (hereinafter referred to as the “Training Program”) is a new era youth quality and ability training program established by the China Education International Exchange Association directly under the Ministry of Education for domestic university students.
5 Dean Wang Wei delivered a keynote speech at the special seminar of the 2021 China International Education Conference
On October 21st, Dean Wang Wei of the EWIE Research Institute delivered a keynote speech at the 2021 China International Education Annual Conference on “Expanding and Enhancing the International Perspective of Teachers and Students”. Dean Wang Wei proposed in his speech that “international perspective” is a way of thinking. It is a thinking method that focuses on, observes, and analyzes the connections between different civilizations, economies, and societies of humanity based on patriotism. Therefore, in terms of talent cultivation, patriotism, international perspective, and cross-cultural communication should be organically combined, and the ultimate goal is to cultivate virtue and talent. 2、 Foreign languages are an important tool for enhancing international perspectives. Language is a tool for communication and the foundation for cultural exchange. The foundation of people to people communication is language exchange. Promoting the joint construction of the “the Belt and Road” and building a community with a shared future for mankind puts forward higher requirements for foreign language education. It is necessary to optimize the curriculum structure, innovate the talent training model, and accelerate the training of professionals with both high-level foreign language skills and professional knowledge and skills; Accelerate the cultivation of young people with comprehensive development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor, who are rooted in China and integrate with foreign countries, and have an international perspective in the new era. 3、 Society is an important force and classroom for the internationalization of education. The cultivation of international perspective or global competence has actually exceeded the capabilities and scope of a single institution in many aspects in terms of resource requirements. Social participation can not only provide schools with supplementary resources for international development, but also provide students with broader paths and channels for social practice. Therefore, we advocate for full international exchange and cooperation, effectively integrating high-quality educational resources from abroad with domestic education and teaching. Only in this way can we actively participate in the transformation of the global governance system.
6 Positive results have been achieved in the preparation of the “Excellent High School International Project Evaluation Standards”
As the initiating unit, the EWIE Research Institute collaborated with multiple high schools and educational institutions to participate in the preparation of the “Excellent High School International Project Evaluation Specification” sponsored by the China Education International Exchange Association. On September 28th, the first seminar on standardized development work was successfully held online. An Yan, Deputy Secretary General of China Education International Exchange Association, Tang Zhenfu, Director of Academic Exchange and Research Department, Wang Wei, Dean of EWIE Research Institute, Zhu Yiming, Director of Education Reform Research Center of East China Normal University Basic Education Reform and Development Research Institute, Li Zhanguo, Associate Professor of China University of Metrology, and representatives of 14 participating units attended the meeting and delivered speeches. At the meeting, experts and participating units affirmed the significance and value of the “Excellent High School International Project Evaluation Standards”, and proposed revision suggestions and suggestions for the discussion draft of the standards. At present, the standardization revision is nearing completion, and the preparation work has achieved positive results.
7 The EWIE Research Institute collaborates on the 2021 China ASEAN Education Exchange Week Silk Road Colorful Guizhou Cultural Experience Tour
On the morning of September 23rd, the opening ceremony of the “2021 ‘Knowledge and Action Guizhou’ Silk Road Youth Exchange Plan – Colorful Guizhou Cultural Experience Tour”, sponsored by the Education Department of Guizhou Province, organized by the Secretariat of the China ASEAN Education Exchange Week Organizing Committee and Guizhou University, and co organized by Jiangsu University, the China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, and the EWIE Research Institute, was held at the School of International Education of Guizhou University. Wang Hui, a member of the Party Group of the Department of Education of Guizhou Province and Chairman of the Provincial Education Union, Luo Changjiang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Guizhou University, E Xuewen, Secretary General of the China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, and Zhang Quan, Deputy Director of the Secretariat Office of the China ASEAN Education Exchange Week Organizing Committee and Secretary General of the Guizhou Education International Exchange Association, attended the opening ceremony of the class. The ceremony was attended by leaders, teachers and counselors from Jiangsu University, Guizhou University and other domestic universities, as well as 18 foreign students from ASEAN and countries along the “the Belt and Road”. During the 8-day event, the students experienced a rich and colorful traditional Chinese culture and learned distinctive Guizhou regional cultural courses.
8 EWIE and North China Electric Power University Investigating Hainan Cooperation in Running Schools
On April 15th, Mr. Wang Wei, President of the EWIE Research Institute and Chairman of the EWIE, along with Secretary Zhou Jian and Vice President Hao Yingjie of North China Electric Power University, conducted an inspection of Hainan on the cooperation between the two sides in establishing the Maritime Silk Road International Energy College. They also held talks with relevant officials such as Xing Kongzheng, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Education, on the idea of establishing the college.
9 East West International Education JADE Project Launched Between Chinese and Thai Universities
On the morning of February 23rd, the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between Hubei University of Economics and North Chiang Mai University in Thailand was successfully held through video conference, marking the official launch of the JADE project between the two universities. Ms., Vice President of North Chiang Mai University Chutima Chavasint, Vice President of Hubei University of Economics Fu Hong, Secretary General of the China Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance E Xuewen, and representatives from the EWIE Research Institute were specially invited to attend the signing ceremony. The JADE project is an international education project aimed at promoting academic exchange and cooperation between partner universities, as well as promoting two-way communication between teachers and students of the two schools. Chinese and foreign students participating in the project can choose to study at the other university for 1-4 semesters. If they continue to study at the other university for more than four semesters, they will receive a bachelor’s degree from both universities simultaneously.
10 Study Abroad Cloud Museum: Cloud Exhibition of Millennium Chinese Study Abroad History, Special Exhibition of Party and Study Abroad Century
In July, the EWIE established the “Study Abroad Cloud Museum”. The Cloud Museum collects, researches, and displays all cultural relics or images related to the “China Study Abroad Activity”; Including cultural relics and images that reflect the process, system, policies, events, activities, and characters of studying abroad, and interpreting the classics and significance of over 200 years of modern Chinese history of studying abroad, expanding the perspective and function of international exchanges. In the three-dimensional curation, with a broad and profound perspective, it reflects the changes in China’s modern study abroad history over 200 years, showcases the development of study abroad culture and the true achievements of study abroad activities, conveys cultural information about study abroad history, promotes the spirit of struggle of study abroad figures, and thus promotes the development of the study abroad industry.
On 28th November 2023, at the invitation of Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of the Agricultural University of Thailand (AUT), Mr. E Xuewen, Secretary General of China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance (CTHECA), and Mr. Wang Rundun, Vice President of EWIE, led a delegation to visit AUT. Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of the Agricultural University of Thailand, expressed his warm welcome to the delegation and hoped to strengthen the cooperation with China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance and EWIE in the future, and to cultivate more international talents for the economic and social development of the two countries through the promotion of the cooperation of courses and the exchange of teachers and students between the two sides. Secretary General E Xuewen and Vice President Wang Rundun expressed their sincere thanks for the warm reception of the University of Agriculture, and said that as a platform for cooperation between Chinese and Thai higher education institutions, the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance will endeavour to create more opportunities for cooperation between Chinese and Thai higher education institutions, and that EWIE will give full play to its own advantages to push forward the smooth implementation of the China-Thailand education cooperation projects.
Dr. Chongrak, President of the Agricultural University of Thailand with members of the delegation
Afterwards, Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of the Agricultural University of Thailand, and Mr. Wang Rundun, Vice President of East-West International Education, signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of the two parties, reaching a strategic cooperation on the establishment of China-Thailand International Education Centre between EWIE and the Agricultural University of Thailand. The Sino-Thai International Education Centre will be dedicated to jointly cultivating Sino-Thai international talents, carrying out Sino-Thai cooperation in running schools, promoting exchanges between Chinese and Thai teachers and students, and academic and scientific research cooperation, which will open up a new mode of cooperation between Chinese and Thai higher education.
EWIE and Thailand Agricultural University
Memorandum of Cooperation Signing Ceremony
Dr Wanwipa Vongsangnak, Assistant President of the Agricultural University of Thailand, Dr Manasanan Hatthasak, Assistant President, Dr Ladawan Puangchit, Dean of the Faculty of International Studies, Dr Thongrob Ruenbanthoeng, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Dr Apisit Songsasen, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr Srijidtra Charoenlarpnopparu, Dean of Graduate Studies and staff from the Department of International Affairs attended the meeting. Songsasen, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Wanchai Yodsudjai, Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Srijidtra Charoenlarpnopparu, and staff from the Department of International Affairs attended the meeting. Dean Zhang Li and Director Zhu Yingli, heads of Thailand Office of the Secretariat of Sino-Thai Higher Education Alliance, and heads of relevant departments of East-West International Education attended the meeting.
Actively carry out the “New Youth Global Competence Talent Training Program” to help cultivate compound international talents in the new era
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Commissioned by the China Education International Exchange and Training Institute, EWIE is tasked with designing, planning, organization, implementing and monitoring of the “New Youth Global Competence Talent Training Program”. This initiative, supported by the China Education International Exchange Association, aims to enhance the skills and qualities of domestic college students. The project combines courses with practical activities to cultivate high-level international talents with global vision, international communication capabilities and international competitiveness. The project has been recognized and participated by nearly 150 domestic universities, and has been supported by international organizations such as the United Nations Development Program, UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, as well as domestic and foreign multinational companies.
“Opening Ceremony of the New Young Global Competence Talent Development Programme (NYGCTP) Autumn 2022
Boosting Education Standards
Contributing to the development of international education
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EWIE is committed to promoting the establishment of education standards that are in line with China’s national conditions and have an international perspective, contributing to the construction of a high-quality education system and the cultivation of talents in the new era. The “Evaluation Standards for High School Excellence International Programmes”, which was initiated by the Group together with 14 famous high schools and educational institutions, was finalized in mid-December 2022 after expert evaluation by the participating institutions, reviewed and approved by the National Standardization Committee, and was formally released on January 1, 2023 by the China Association for International Exchange in Education (CAIEE). In addition, the Professional Competence Standards for Counsellors of High School International Programmes for Overseas Study, initiated by the EWIE together with relevant institutions, passed the expert assessment in November 2022 for the establishment of the project.
East-West International Education Headquarters in Hainan
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In 2022, the headquarter of EWIE was successfully settled in Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City in Sanya, Hainan Province, and the full name of the company was changed to “Hainan East-West Education Technology Co. During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, Hainan Province will take the overall planning of Hainan International Education and Innovation Island as the key, innovate the ways and means of opening up education, give full play to the advantages of Hainan as an important node of domestic and international double-cycle, and create a new benchmark for the opening up of education in the country. The Group will actively participate in the development of international education in Hainan, and contribute to the Group’s opening up of business areas, innovation and development mode, and strive for leapfrog development.
Open up new fields, develop new resources, and pursue new development.
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In order to adapt to the ever-changing international environment and the market environment affected by the epidemic, EWIE 2022 concentrates its advantageous resources, strengthens industrial research and explores new development areas. Firstly, the Group will cooperate with relevant institutions and colleges to promote the establishment of a summer humanities exchange programme for international university students that integrates Chinese and foreign countries, so as to promote exchanges and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign university students; secondly, the Group will explore the establishment of a resource-sharing platform in the field of Chinese-foreign cooperative education with relevant institutions, so as to serve for the enhancement of the quality of Chinese-foreign cooperative education; in addition, the Group will explore the establishment of a senior high school career planning and counselling for higher education in the New College Entrance Examination, so as to serve for the accelerated cultivation of In addition, the Group is exploring the establishment of high school career planning and counselling for the new college entrance examination, in order to speed up the cultivation of outstanding talents in the new era. At the same time, the Group integrated the international exchange and cooperation business, upgraded and established the International Development Department, keeping pace with the times, focusing on its advantages, and actively exploring the accumulation of diversified overseas resources, in line with the Group’s new development strategy and new business development areas.
Continuing to promote high-quality exchanges and cooperation, the 4th China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum was fruitful.
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As the institution hosting the Secretariat of the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, since 2019, EWIE, in cooperation with relevant universities and with the support of the China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week, has continuously hosted the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum to actively promote China-Thailand higher education exchanges.
The 4th China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum, jointly organised by Jiangsu University, Guizhou University, Guiyang College and China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, was held in Guiyang on 24 August 2022 under the theme of “Creating a New Stage of Cooperation and Building a Development Community”. The 4th China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum, jointly organised by the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance and themed on “Creating a New Stage of Cooperation and Building a Development Community”, was successfully held in Guiyang. More than 200 representatives from nearly 100 universities in China and Thailand participated in the meeting through online and offline integration. During the meeting, four institutions, namely, Dalian Ocean University and Prince of Songkla University, Foshan Institute of Science and Technology and Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, signed co-operation agreements and held the establishment ceremony of the Agriculture and Food Committee of China-Thailand Higher Education Co-operation Alliance.
In the meantime, the forum held the parallel activity of “International Young Students Forum”, in which young students from East China Normal University, Jiangsu University, Anhui University, Institute of International Relations, Sichuan International Studies University, Xi’an International Studies University, Guiyang College, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, and Karasin University of Thailand made speeches in English at the forum. The forum created a good opportunity for Chinese and foreign youth to learn from each other, build friendship, and exchange ideas.
Signing Ceremony of Co-operation Agreements between Member Institutions of the Sino-Thai Higher Education Co-operation Alliance
Rapid Growth of Immigration Services Business of CITS Group Immigration Services Limited, the Holding Company of the Group
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In 2022, the immigration business of the Group’s holding company, CITS Group Immigration Services Limited, grew rapidly and led to the development of related services. In addition, CITS Group Immigration Services signed a strategic cooperation agreement in mid-October with CTS Travel Services Limited (CTS Travel), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CTS Group’s travel services business, in the visa and accreditation business. This cooperation, based on the convenience and strength of CTS Group’s more than 50 overseas visa centres, lays the foundation for the expansion of business travel, study, study abroad and immigration businesses.
Promoting Chinese Education and International Cooperation
Dean Wang Wei was interviewed by Global Education News.
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As a professional institution specialising in international education research and services, EWIE has always been committed to promoting global cooperation in education. in January 2022, Mr. Wang Wei, President of EWIEG, was invited to an exclusive interview with The PIE News (hereinafter referred to as The PIE) at the beginning of the new year to talk about international education under the epidemic, the impact of the epidemic on international students going abroad, changes in study destinations, and the impact of the epidemic on international students going abroad. Mr Wang Wei was invited by The PIE News to give an exclusive interview on international education under the epidemic, the impact of the epidemic on international students going abroad, the change of study destinations, the development of employment for international students returning to their home countries, as well as the outlook of the study abroad industry in China.
Dean Wang Wei Interviewed Exclusively by Global Education News on PIE NEWS
Promoting “Belt and Road” Higher Education Co-operation, the Group was entrusted to set up the Beijing Representative Office of the Chinese University in Egypt.
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EWIE has been committed to promoting higher education cooperation among “Belt and Road” countries in recent years. 2022, EWIEG was commissioned by the Egyptian Chinese University (ECU) to set up its Beijing office in EWIEG. 16th March 2022, the opening ceremony of ECU’s Beijing office was held at East-West Institute of International Education (EWIE).
Mr Wang Shengang, Minister Counsellor for Education, Science and Technology of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, Ms Karima, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Chinese University of Egypt, Ms Sonata, Director of International Affairs of the Chinese University of Egypt, Ms Xu Yanhe, Director of Chinese Affairs of the Chinese University of Egypt, Mr Wang Ge, Advisor of the Chinese University of Egypt, Mr E Xuewen, Chief Representative of the Beijing Representative Office of the Chinese University of Egypt, Mr Wang Wei, President of the East West Institute of International Education, Vice President of the Institute Mr Jin Xiaojun, as well as leaders and teacher representatives from partner universities such as Beijing Language and Culture University, Northeast University of Finance and Economics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Taiyuan University of Technology, Hebei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and leaders and teachers from the headquarters of the Egyptian Chinese University and the Beijing Representative Office participated in the online live broadcasting of the unveiling ceremony and witnessed the birth of the Beijing Representative Office of the Egyptian Chinese University together.
Scene of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Representative Office of the Chinese University in Egypt
As a new international university with strong Chinese cultural influences, the Chinese University of Egypt is playing a pivotal role in enhancing educational, scientific and and cultural ties between China and Egypt, It serves as a key centre for the promoting of Chinese culture to the Egyptian people, cultivating more international scientific and technological talents who are well versed in Chinese and Egyptian culture for the construction and development of Egypt as well as China-Egypt international cultural exchanges and the construction of the Belt and Road, and becoming a symbolic achievement of the cooperation in the field of higher education between China and Egypt. It has become a landmark achievement of cooperation between China and Egypt in the field of higher education.
Unity and Efforts to Overcome the Impact of the Epidemic
Unity, unity, unceasing service
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Amidst the fluctuating situation of the epidemic, domestic and international travel disruptions, and restrictions on external communications, the Group has been united in overcoming the difficulties in 2022, striving to overcome the impact of the epidemic and actively promoting business development. In fact, since the outbreak of the New Crown Epidemic in 2020, the Group has actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibility by insisting on no salary cuts or layoffs, and has continued to show care and support for the growth and development of its employees. At the same time, the Group has actively broadened its business areas and taken effective measures such as increasing investment in online facilities and expanding the provision of online services in an effort to maintain the pace and level of development. In addition, the Group carried forward the spirit of international humanitarianism and donated some masks and other anti-epidemic materials as far as it was able to to foreign partner colleges and universities in the early stage of the outbreak of the epidemic, putting into practice the concept of the community of human destiny, and winning praises both at home and abroad.
EWIE Helps the Rapid Development of the International Department Project of Beijing Shida Middle School
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East-West International Education Institute and Beijing Shida Middle School established the school’s International Department programme in 2019, with the Group providing innovative design and assisting in the implementation of reliable international partners. The programme offers IGCSE and A-level, IFC programmes and is open to students from Years 9-12 across Beijing. Students are enrolled directly into Ascot LVS School in the UK and are awarded a diploma upon graduation, and the first cohort of graduates in 2022 have all received offers from the top 20 universities in the UK, with graduates going on to study at renowned overseas institutions such as University College London, the University of Manchester, and the University of Edinburgh. The surge in enrolment in 2022 demonstrates the steady increase in social recognition of the programme and its rapid development.
The 4th China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum, jointly organised by Jiangsu University, Guizhou University, Guiyang College and China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, was successfully held in Guiyang, China, on 24 August 2022 under the theme of “Creating a New Stage of Cooperation and Constructing a Development Community”. The 4th China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Forum, jointly organised by the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance and themed on “Creating a New Stage of Cooperation and Building a Development Community”, was successfully held in Guiyang. More than 200 representatives from nearly 100 universities in China and Thailand participated in the meeting through online and offline integration, discussing research cooperation, youth exchange and talent cultivation, sharing useful experience and promoting practical cooperation.
The forum coincided with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Thailand, was the opening period event of the 2022 China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week, and was guided by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE). The forum arranged “Sub-Forum for Chinese and Thai University Presidents”, “Sino-Thai Higher Education Co-operation-Innovation and Practice Seminar”, “Sino-Thai Academic Forum on Agriculture and Food”, “International Young Scholars Forum” and “Launching Ceremony of China-Thailand Cloud Education Exhibition and Online Meeting of Cooperation Projects”. The forum was supported by EWIE and Beijing Shanhai Yunhui Education Technology Co.
Liu Limin, former Vice Minister of Ministry of Education and President of China Education Association for International Exchanges, put forward a three-point proposal on China-Thailand higher education cooperation in his opening speech, proposing that China and Thailand should deepen scientific research exchanges and drive industrial cooperation; strengthen talent cooperation based on common development; and promote youth exchanges to create a better future together. He believes that educational exchanges and cooperation between China and Thailand have a solid foundation and a broad future. On the basis of deepening cooperation in language education and mutual recognition of credits, universities of both sides should innovate the mode of exchanges, expand the exchange of young students and scholars, and pass on the friendly tradition of “China and Thailand are one family”. Dr Anai Lautamata, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Thailand, said in the opening video message that the cooperation between Chinese and Thai higher education as well as between Chinese and ASEAN universities should focus on building a cooperative and innovative system, and drive industrial cooperation with high-quality university cooperation, so as to promote common development.
Professor Yan Xiaohong, President of Jiangsu University and Chinese Co-Chairman of the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, said at the opening ceremony that as the chairman of the Alliance, Jiangsu University will continue to promote the deepening of cooperation between the member universities of the China-Thailand Higher Education Alliance in the areas of fostering the cultivation of young talents and exchanges, deepening scientific research and technological cooperation, and promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people communication. Dr Pongchai Mongkongwani, President of Siam University and Co-Chairman of the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance, said in his speech that Asian universities should uphold the spirit of unity and sharing, promote the interconnection of education standards, deepen talent cooperation and achieve common development. Professor Zhou Shaoqi, Vice President of Guizhou University, Professor Liu Gang, Vice President of Guiyang College, Dr Chen Shanyi, Minister Counsellor for Education, Science and Technology of the Embassy of Thailand in China, and Feng Junying, Counsellor for Education of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was presided over by E Xuewen, Secretary General of China-Thailand Higher Education Co-operation Alliance.
Figure 1: Prof Yan Xiaohong, President of Jiangsu University and Chinese Co-Chairman of the China-Thailand Higher Education Co-operation Alliance
Figure 2: E Xuewen, Secretary General of China-Thailand Higher Education Co-operation Alliance
Figure 3: Signing Ceremony of the Co-operation Agreement between Member Institutions of the Sino-Thai Higher Education Co-operation Alliance
Following the forum’s opening ceremony, four institutions—Dalian Ocean University and Prince of Songkla University, Foshan Institute of Science and Technology and Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand—signed cooperation agreements. They also held the establishment ceremony for the Agriculture and Food Committee of China-Thailand Higher Education Co-operation Alliance, attended by leaders and guests.
The Sino-Thai University Presidents’ Forum was hosted by Zhao Yutao, Vice President of Jiangsu University, where 10 presidents from both sides exchanged and discussed topics such as high-level and high-quality university cooperation between China and Thailand in the new era, the development of international Chinese language education, curriculum cooperation between Chinese and Thai universities, global professional talent cultivation, and the mode of cultivating international engineering talents.
Figure 4: Dr Pongchai Munkhongwani, President of Siam University and Co-Chairman of the Thai side of the Sino-Thai Higher Education Co-operation Union
Following the previous forum, the Sino-Thai Agriculture and Food Academic Forum was held again, with academic discussions on agriculture and rural development, agricultural harvesting machinery development, aquatic processing and industrial development, food processing technology and other topics. In the parallel seminar on “Sino-Thai Higher Education Cooperation – Innovation and Practice”, participants discussed credit recognition, mutual recognition of degrees, professional articulation, teacher-student exchanges, and artificial intelligence and language assessment in Chinese and Thai higher education.
The Shida International Department is part of the Senior High School of Beijing Shida Middle School and has been established since 2019, enrolling students in grades 9-12 for the whole city of Beijing, offering IGCSE and A-level and IFC programmes. The programme is designed by the East-West Institute of International Education, which introduces all kinds of international education resources to the school.Students enrolled in the programme can register for Ascot LVS School in the UK and graduate with the school’s diploma.The first graduating class of 2022 applied for acceptance letters from renowned overseas colleges and universities, such as UCL, the University of Manchester, and the University of Edinburgh, and each student received 4.5 overseas The VCU Study Abroad Programme Department provides overseas study planning and services, and the results are encouraging.
As of 17 August this year, with the arrival of all the new students of Shida International Department in 2022, the admission work of Shida International Department in 2022 has been successfully completed, and preparations are now underway to welcome the new students. In 2022, Shida International Division will recruit students from all districts of Beijing. 50 students are planned to be admitted to the Shida programme, and 64 students have finally registered and reported to the school, which has exceeded the enrolment quota.
In 2022, the enrolment strategy focused on “expanding scale, adjusting structure and maintaining quality” . This approach included implementing various initiatives, optimizing the enrolment structure and enhancing public efforts. Admission publicity takes online and offline publicity as the main position, and works closely with all kinds of admission publicity partners to carry out professional live broadcasts, explanation of admission policies, open day activities, and participation in international school choice exhibitions and other activities. Through multiple channels such as media portals, admissions websites, public numbers, live broadcasts, and WeChat groups, we release admissions information; we open counselling hotlines and interviews with admissions officers to answer parents’ and students’ questions in a timely and efficient manner; and we hold a number of admissions exams to assess applicants in written tests and interviews, and to strictly control the quality of admissions.
Shida High School has made a lot of preparations to welcome the new students, and the dormitory for new students has been renovated. In the next stage, we will have a 12-day freshmen military training. Let’s show you the freshmen style and new environment!
